There are many items at home which we take for granted. Most of these include our electrical gadgets whom we think to be foolproof. Well if they are of good quality and make, then they do withstand rough use as they are manufactured to operate as safe as possible but that doesn’t mean they are immune to misuse. Such factors make everyone take advantage of an extension board and use every socket to plug in some appliance or another. There is something called electrical load and even your safe extension board can give way which is why you need to abide by extension cord safety tips from the ESFI (Electrical safety Foundation International)
Power banks and extension cords as everyone knows are a body of multi-plug sockets attached to a long cord. But! Just because your power board has that many sockets, it doesn’t really mean you should use all of them. Even if there are extra sockets or more than usual, the board will not safely supply power to all. Extension cords are meant to be used as a temporary solution to provide power to your appliances. It should never be permanent as it can deteriorate over time which is when it can become a high-risk electrical hazard that can start a fire in your home.
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The biggest risk to your extension cord is plugging in a space heater which the Umatilla County Fire district warns never to do and with good reason. In their latest Facebook post, the fire department warned people saying
“The weather is getting colder, and people are pulling out their space heaters. We just wanted to remind you that you should NEVER plug a heater into a power strip. These units are not designed to handle the high current flow needed for a space heater and can overheat or even catch fire due to the added energy flow.”
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According to the Umatilla County Fire District, electric extension cords are not designed to take the load of a space heater. The board can catch fire due to overheating from the extra electrical load or energy flow. The district board has posted the guideline on their Facebook page so that everyone is made aware of such issues that can prevent a major fire.
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As per a report in the National Fire protection Association in 2010, 79% of fatal home heating fires were caused by space heaters. In Addition, 32% of fire-related deaths were caused by space heaters. Space heaters are high powered appliances and cannot be supported by domestic extension cords.
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The fire districts Facebook page mentioned the fact that manufacturers were not at fault. While you should always purchase appliances that are of reputable make, still if it catches fire, it is invariably due to misuse and overload. The following are safety guidelines concerning extension cords issued by the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
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As mentioned earlier, this is the first and foremost guideline which not many really pay attention too. Almost every household uses extension cords plugging as many as sockets are available.
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The most important thing to remember is never to plug in heavy duty appliances into your extension board. Items like space heaters consume a huge load which is indicated by wattage. Your extension board may not be equipped to handle that much which is why whenever you purchase an extension board, make a check list of what appliances you plan to use with it and purchase accordingly. Match the wattage of the appliance with the rating on the extension cord.
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Well everyone needs a temporary power connection for their Christmas lights. The ideal thing to do is to make a connection on your porch but if you don’t have one and are using an extension board, then ensure the board is placed at a safe and suitable height protected away from water or snow. Moreover ensure that you are using an extension cord for outdoor use if placed outdoors or use a protective covering.
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As said, extension cords are only meant for temporary usage. They should never take the place of permanent wiring which is why when you require using an appliance instantly, making a power outlet for it in relation to the closest power source rather than use an extension board.
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A covered cord does not allow heat to escape which could result in a fire. If your extension cord happens to be a spiral type board, always unravel the entire cord and use it even though the distance to the power source may be a short one.
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Using more than one appliance may cause additional load on the extension board making it heat up and catch fire.
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Heavy reliance on extension cords means that your home has too few power outlets to meet your consumption. Arrange an electrician to install additional outlets wherever needed.
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Polarized plugs are safer for use. Do not attempt to plug in a three pin plug into a board with two pin sockets. Cutting off the grounding pin is a dangerous thing to do and could lead to electrical shock. Also do not force plugs into sockets if they don’t fit.
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If an extension cord feels hot to the touch and shows signs of damage, discard it immediately because touching exposed strands can shock or burn you. It can also burn any inflammable material in contact with it.
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Always make sure the extension cord you purchase has been approved by the independent testing laboratory like Underwriters Laboratories (UL), ETL-SEMKO or Canadian Standards Association. Following these extension cord safety tips can do much to prevent electrical fires at home.
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